Microsoft confirmed that its Azure cloud platform is facing service delays in parts of the Middle East after undersea fiber optic cables in the Red Sea were cut, disrupting regional internet traffic. The network issues began on Saturday, though the company has not disclosed the exact cause of the cable damage. Microsoft noted that traffic outside the Middle East has not been impacted.
Internet observatory NetBlocks reported that several submarine cable outages in the Red Sea have degraded connectivity across multiple countries, including India and Pakistan. Submarine cables, which often run along shipping lanes through the Red Sea, carry the vast majority of global internet traffic and are critical to cloud computing, finance, digital health, and education.
The disruption comes amid heightened concerns over the safety of maritime infrastructure in the Red Sea. Since late 2023, Yemen’s Houthi rebels have targeted commercial vessels in the area, raising fears that essential communication lines could be at risk.
Globally, about 1.4 million kilometers of fiber optic cables lie on the ocean floor, traditionally managed by telecom consortia but increasingly overseen by major technology companies like Microsoft to meet surging data demands. Experts emphasize that while submarine cable damage is relatively common, the consequences can ripple across multiple countries, slowing internet speeds and impairing cloud services.
